Connect 2 project

[admin]

On-line voting has now started for the People's Millions Lottery Givaway. You can register your vote for Sustrans Connect2 and read more about it at:

www.thepeoples50million.org.uk

So if you would like Marple and the surrounding district to benefit from a share of this money get voting now and tell all your friends, neighbours and relatives too!

[wolfman]

The final shortlist was announced today and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and former minister Charles Clarke will lead the sustainable transport charity’s bid to transform local travel opportunities in Stockport and across the UK. Adam Hart Davies, Wayne Hemingway and Ken Livingstone are among other high-profile supporters.
Four organisations, including ‘Sustrans’ Connect2 project, are competing for the £50 million grant to be decided by public vote on ITV1 in early December. Each project will be the subject of a television programme on ITV1 in the week commencing 3 December.
Sustrans' Connect2 will be featured on Tuesday 4 December. Full programme details will be released in mid November. Voting will take place online and by phone vote following the TV shows.
Online voting for The People’s £50 Million Lottery Giveaway will open at 9am on 26 November at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk. Telephone voting will be over the weekend 7-10 December.**

[CTCREP]

The Bridge will not be a waste of money if we get it. I can’t see Stockport spending too much time at the moment on what is still a gamble, but once it is there then everyone should press Stockport to create their part of a high quality link between Stockport and Macclesfield. Other towns have done similar things – York to Selby, Ilfracombe to Plymouth for example. Locally there is the Fallowfield Loop. Anyone who has an interest in catering for the non-motorist, and the motorists who have an interest in having an attractive leisure route should vote for Connect2.

[the rover]

Just received this from my company which is involved in one of the Sustrans Connect2 projects. Below is the method of on line voting for the project.

The BIG Lottery Fund has unveiled the final shortlist for the People’s £50 Million Lottery Giveaway. The contest will be a public vote which will see one project of national importance win a grant of £50 million.

One of the four, the Sustrans Connect2 project, is made up of 79 sustainable transport schemes from all over the UK, including the Royston rail underpass which is being designed by Mouchel engineers for Hertfordshire County Council.

There will be a series of TV programmes, each featuring one of the four projects.

At present, we understand that the programmes will go out after the 10.30 ITV news in the first week of December, with a round-up final programme on the Friday evening when the telephone number to dial for your favourite will be given out.

“But you can vote on line from November 26th at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/ .” said Richard Boutal, client support manager at the WGC office.

“Obviously we would be delighted if everyone in Mouchel voted either on line or on the phone for Connect2.  We are intending to publicise the phone number over the critical weekend through the Herts County Council web site and we will give our Mouchel colleagues more information nearer the time.”

If Connect2 wins the TV vote, then the Royston scheme will get £700,000 towards the overall £3.2 million cost. At present the northern part of Royston is cut in half by the railway line.

This underpass would connect the two and provide a sustainable link between them.

It is estimated that 6 million people live within ½ mile of one of the Connect2 projects. To find out more go to www.sustransconnect2.org.uk

[Lisa Oldham]

Still seems a waste of money if there are no specific long term very clear public plans to improve the paths/roads on the Marple side of "the bridge".  

I havent seen any evidence of this yet have you?

and YEP Im going to email my councillors and Andrew Stunnell about it though doubt very much the councillors will reply as they rarely have to my emails  '>

[CTCREP]

Connect2 is gathering momentum. Please visit The Peoples Millions and pledge your support for the SustransConnect2 bid. This could mean £500,000 being spent in Stockport for the benefit of all. If it becomes a reality and Stockport MBC goes on to create a high quality off-road route between Stockport Town Centre and Rosehill Marple, to link up with the Middlewood Way, then the residents of Stockport would have an attractive route out into the countryside away from the traffic, and Cycle Commuters from Marple and beyond would have excellent way of avoiding the traffic to get into Stockport.

[CTCREP]

If you want to know more about Stockport’s involvement in Connect2, go to Dialstone or Marple Libraries, or Romiley Forum. Exhibitions are on display until the 12th October.

[CTCREP]

Those of you who picked up a leaflet about Connect2 last weekend and tried to access www.stockport.gov.uk/connect2 and failed, will now find it is working.

[CTCREP]

Sorry Lisa. Just realised I made a mistake with your name.

[CTCREP]

I agree with Tina. Her concerns are perfectly valid. In my view all urban Bridleways and similar routes should be useable by those in wheel chairs etc. Our daughter lives in California and I found it fascinating to see a young mother pushing her child in a wheel chair on just such a path as our Middlewood Way. Fascinating because she was on roller blades travelling about 10 mph. - there were hardly any other people on the path at the time.

But to come back to earth. If Sustrans wins the “People’s Millions Bid” in December then they get nearly £500,000 to be spent on the bridge and hopefully there will be some left to upgrade some of the surfaces.

[Lisa Oldham]

I tihnk its a good idea too however Im intening to point out that tough its great to have access including disabled access across the river its not much good if they cant then get along the path and up the road into Marple.... Havent been for a while but one of the reasons is the state of the path... I have gone down the road of the Dale and though improved its certainly not up to scratch for wheelchair users!!

[tina]

I got a letter on saturday about this project. Sounds good and has given a couple of design ideas for the bridge.
There is a couple of dates on the back page.
the food and drink festival and in town without my car. Both of which was on Saturday so a bit short notice for those who didn't know about these events. the other one is for the connect2 day on the 27th Sept -4th Oct 6:30pm-9:00pm
Public exhibitions with detailed plans will be available from today at Marple Library, Dialstone Library and the Romily forum (community center).
Hope the above information is useful  '>

[CTCREP]

Stockport is giving more information about Connect2 on its web site www.stockport.gov.uk/connect2.  They are asking for opinions on a proposed bridge over the River Goyt at Chadkirk, and will be providing a Light Show in the area of the proposed bridge, just off Vale Rd. Offerton from 27th September until the 4th of October from 6-30pm to 9pm.

[wolfman]

Stockport has successfully been included in the list for Sustrans’ (the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity) Connect2 project, which could see the borough benefit from the charity’s bid for a single multi-million pound grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.
  
 
 
Sustrans’ Connect2 Project is about overcoming long standing barriers that prevent people walking and cycling within their local area as part of their everyday journeys. Stockport Council submitted a proposal to become part of Connect2 and is now looking for public support to ensure that Stockport’s project makes the final shortlist.

The Council’s proposal is for a new river crossing in the vicinity of Chadkirk Weir which would greatly increase access to and through surrounding green space, including Chadkirk Estate, for trips to local schools, stations and local centres within Stockport.

Jim McMahon, Stockport Council’s Assistant Director for Transportation and Planning, said: “It’s great to see that Stockport’s proposal has got so far. We’re up against some tough competition but believe that our scheme will have huge benefits for people living in the area, and encourage more people to visit the beautiful Goyt Valley.

“Our scheme will help to break down barriers that have been dividing communities for decades. Traffic-free links between Marple, Romiley, Offerton and Stockport town centre have been blocked by the River Goyt and main roads. However, with Big Lottery funding we could create an exciting new route over the river for pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders, linking one side of the valley with the other and making sense of the paths and routes that have been built over a number of years.”

If Stockport’s scheme makes Sustrans’ final short list of around 75, then it will form part of their final bid for the £50m Big Lottery Fund grant. Connect2 is one of the projects being considered to compete for the grant, and the winner will be decided by public TV vote at the end of this year.

Richard Leyshon, the Council’s Head of Policy, added: “Community support for this scheme will go a long way in helping us get through to the final stages. To help champion our scheme, people can pledge their support online by visiting www.sustransconnect2.org.uk or by calling their information line on 08450 581373 by April 23rd. Every vote counts!

“We are also looking for community groups in the area who would like to work with us to develop and promote the scheme. If you’d like to get involved please contact the Council’s Transportation team on 0161 474 4593.”
 
 
 
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